Bishop Alphonse Schladweiler of the Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm announced today he has resigned, for health reasons.

He said Pope Paul VI has named the Auxiliary Bishop of the Arch-diocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, The Most Rev. Raymond Lucker,to become head of the New Ulm Diocese.

Bishop Schladweiler, 73, said in a Statement: “My resignation is prompted by two reasons. One of them is health. Certain physical problems have developed which I feel will interfere with carrying the full load of my duties of office.

“The second reason is to make room for a younger man because after 18 years at the helm, I feel it is time to step down. Only two priests in active service in the diocese are older than I and only one is my senior in the priesthood.”

BISHOP SCHLADWEILER was the first bishop named to head the Diocese of New Ulm when it was created 18 years ago.

He will continue to administer the diocese until Bishop Lucker takes over. No date for installation of Bishop Lucker has been set.

Bishop Schladweiler pans to retire in New Ulm.George Saffert,founder of American Artsone who died last May, willed his house at 415 N. German to the New Ulm Catholic Diocese with the wish it be used as a home for a retired bishop of the diocese, Bishop Schladweiler, if he desires.

The house has been redecorated.and an altar is being built so the retired bishop can say masses.

BISHOP LUCKER,48,was born in St. Paul and grew up on St. Paul’s East side.

After attending both the Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary, Arden Hills, and the Saint Paul Seminary, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Rev. James Byrne in the Cathedral of Saint Paul June 7,1952.

Following his ordination, Father Lucker was appointed an assistant to the director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) in St.Paul.

In 1958 he was named director of the CCD, continuing in this office until January 1969. He served as professor of Catechetics at the Saint Paul Seminary from 1957 to 1968.He was also administrator of St. Gregory’s Parish in St. Paul during 1954 and 1955.

After receiving a Doctorate in Theology at the Angelicum University in Rome in 1966, he was named assistant superintendent of schools of the Archdiocese. The next year he was named superintendent of Catholic schools. He received a Ph.D. in education from the University of Minnesota in 1969.

Jan.1,1969 he was named director of the Department of Education for the United States Catholic Con-ference in Washington, D.C.

He was ordained a Bishop Sept. 8, 1971,and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.While Auxiliary Bishop he has been vicar of education and director of the Pastoral Planning Program for the Archdiocese and chairman of the Liturgy Commission.

He was pastor of St. Austin’s Parish in Minneapolis from 1971 to 1974 and is presently pastor of the Assumption Parish in St. Paul.

IN THE National Conference of Catholic Bishops he is a member of the Committee on the Permanent Diaconate and Committee on the National Catechetical Directory.He also is a member of the Education Committee of the United States Catholic Conference, and a member of the Committee for Liaison with Charismatic Catholics.

Bishop Lucker has written two books, “Aims of Religious Education’ (1966) and “The Released Time Controversy”(1969),and articles on religious education and theology.

He is a member of the National Catholic Education Association, Religion Education Association and the Catholic Theological Society.

He has frequently addressed national and regional conventions on religious education, theology and Church renewal.

His parents live at Vermillion. He has three sisters and two brothers.

Bishop Lucker’s hobbies are carpentry and gardening. His interests are religious education,music and theater; sports, skiing.

The New Ulm Diocese was created in 1957. It covers 15 counties, including Brown, McLeod; Nicollet, Redwood, Renville and Sibley, The Catholic population in the diocese is about 7,000.

BISHOP SCHLADWEILER also came from St.Paul when he arrived in New Ulm as Bishop of the new diocese. A Milwaukee, Wis. native, he was ordained as a priest in 1929. He had served as assistant in Holy Trinity parish from 1930 to 1937.

“These have been wonderful years, filled with growth and development,” said Bishop Schladweiler in a statement today.

“I am profoundly grateful to Almighty God, to the Priests, the Religious and Laity of the Diocese of New Ulm for the cooperation I have received from them.”

“Bishop Lucker is my colleague in the work of the Catholic Church in Minnesota especially through the functionings of the Minnesota Catholic Conference. I have sat with him in many long meetings of recent years and know that he is a knowledgeable, zealous, dedicated churchman, able in ecclesiastical affairs and administration,” Bishop Schladweiler said.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Dec. 30, 1975